Spring catch release



l G. A. TINNERMAN SPRING CATCH RELEASE Filed Dec. 1o, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 2 Y 1 wcm/fw: EE0/45E 'AJYNNERMAN Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE signor to Albert H. Tinnerman,

Ohio

Cleveland,

Application December 1o, 193s, serial No. 244,998

14 Claims. (Cl. 292-254) This invention deals in general with a combined spring catch and release mechanism therefor and relates more particularly, to an improved means for releasing a spring catch employed as the latch or locking device for doors, drawers and similar swinging or sliding closures of refrigerators and similar casing and cabinet structures.

The present application is a continuation in l0 part of a prior copending application Serial Number 222,893, filed August 3, 1938, and which has since issued as United States Patent No. 2,151,284, Marchl 21, 1939.

In the said copending application there is disclosed a preferred form of spring catch construction of general utility and the present invention has for its principal purpose the provision of a release mechanism, also of general utility, which may be readily embodied in any installation of such a spring catch or similar latching mechanism.

A further primary object is to provide a simple, inexpensive and practical form of device for releasing such a spring catch mechanism or the like as embodied in the door latch of a refrigerator or similar cabinet structure, and one which may be easily and quickly actuated by the user in opening the door in a minimum of effort.

Another object and purpose of the present invention is to provide a compact, relatively simple,

inexpensively constructed, durable and serviceable spring catch release mechanism which may be readily actuated by simple pressure of the elbow, wrist or the like in addition to the usual operation by hand in the manner of a substantial push-button operating device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a spring catch and releasing device of this character which may be embodied in a, unitary plate attachment and readily mounted in a refrigerator cabinet construction or the like without marring or in any way detracting from the finish and exterior appearance thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the invention and other new and useful features in the construction, arrangement, and general combination of parts will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art as a description thereof proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawu ings in which like reference characters designatel like parts throughout the same and in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view as on line I--I of Fig. 3, of a doorl and cabinet bodyof a refrigerator or the like, showing the improved u spring catch and release mechanism in the normal operative position of theparts thereof when the door is closed;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the release mechanism as actuated, the parts of the spring catch being shown in the position they assume 5 on opening of the door;

Fig. 3 is a front View` in elevation of a refrigerator cabinet or the like illustrating the mountedA position of the push-button operating means for the spring catch release; 10

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the keeper member of the spring catch device;

i Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a door and door frame structure showing a further embodiment of the invention with the parts of the 15.

spring catch and release mechanism in the position they occupy on closing of the door;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the push-button release mechanism as actuated to disengage the cooperating parts of the spring catch on open- ,'0 ing of the door; f

Fig. 7 is a perspective. of an alternate form of spring keeper employed in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6; and,

Fig. 8 is a vfront elevational view of a cabinet door section showing the combined push-button and handle arrangement employed in this form of th'e invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawy ings, Fig. 1 shows an installation embodying a 30 preferred form of spring catch comprising a pair of substantial snap fastening members, namely, spring keeper I0, and cooperating strike 20, mounted on the opposed, abutting wall members A, B, of the usual cabinet casing and hinged door or similar closure in a refrigerator or the like, a typical form of which is illustrated in Fig. 3. Usually there is a compressible rubber sealing strip C between the door and door frame or casing and the fastening members comprising the catch are so mounted in a completed installation that on closing of the door, they are practi-v cally concealed within the casing to provide a uniform, substantially unbroken exterior appearance to the cabinet or other structure. An important advantage of this preferred form ofv spring catch resides in the fact that the door or other closure may be fully and tightly closed and under more than the Ausual amount of spring tension whereby looseness of the door in closed positionI is eliminated and .squeaks, rattling and other objectionable noises are prevented.

It will be understood that the cooperating fas- 'tening members of the spring catch may be mounted as desired on any pair of separable; u.

l presently to be described, are more advantagevet ously secured to a mounting plate D to provide a unitary attachment which may be readily installed in a refrigerator cabinet structure or the like in a minimum of time and effort which of course is most important on assembly line sysv tems in present lday methods of mass production.

As shown in Fig. 4, the spring keeper is simple in construction and thereby may be cheaply produced from an inexpensive section of sheet metal preferably tempered spring steel for most effective toughness and durability but, of course, may be-provided from any other suitable material such as cold rolled steel and the like. The strip .or section of metal is suitably bent into a substantial, inverted V-shape providing between the base anges II, I2, an intermediate, foreshortened base portion I3 comprising a pair of res ilient spring arms I4, I5. It will be understood that the spring arms are providedfrom the strip by suitable longitudinal slits extending on either side of a transverse'slit in the center area thereof such that when the strip is bent into the inverted V-shape aforesaid, the said spring arms vextend free from the base flanges II, I2v intermediate supporting elbows IS, i1. 'Ihe spring arms are therefore disposed in substantial faceto-face relation and being resilient are readily adapted to lreceive therebetween a cooperating vstrike element 2li, designed to gradually spread -the spring arms apart and permit the same to a an opposite direction. The spring arms are supported in their inclined relation to each other by the elbows I6, I1, and also by the base anges II, I2 which iixedly secure the entire keeperto the supporting surface and thereby maintain the spring arms at all times in operative position to receive and effectively engage the cooperating strike.

Inasmucnas the keeper is constructed entirely I' `of sheet metal, the base flanges II, I2 are ad- 4mirably suited for the provision of integral bolt or screw engaging means in the form of cooperating tongues I, 2, or the like, which may be struck and formed therefrom and designed for engaging a securing bolt. or screw substantially in the manner of a self locking nut. Such integral bolt receiving means in the base flanges may, of course,

be provided in4 any other suitable form or construction depending on the strengthA required and the use to which the device is put, so long as the elements thereof threadedly engage the bolts as` and will not collapse or pullthrough on tightening of the bolt nor loosen from fastening engagement under constant strain, heavy usage and rough handling of an installation in which they are employed. This takes place by reason of the fact that such tongues tend, more effectively, to move toward each other and dig into the grooves intermediate adjacent threads on tighteningl of the bolt or screw and thereby become embedded in the root diameter of such threaded member in locked, frictional fastening engagement therewith. Thusl any vibration, jarring or strain taking place in a completed mounting. cannot cause displacement, reverse rotation or tend toward lunscrewing of the threaded fastening member from applied fastening position. It will therefore be appreciated that in the provision lof such integral bolt receiving means, the vuse of individual threaded nuts orv lock washers of any kind is entirely dispensedwith thereby making for a considerable saving not only inthe cost of such nuts and lockwashers, but also materially Y reducing the expense and labor involved in the tedious, time-consuming assembling operations which such fastenings require. Naturally the 'keeper may be mounted by its baseflanges II, I2

in any other expedient manner as by spot-welding, riveting or conventional nuts and bolts and it is therefore to be understood that the present invention is not in any way limited to the type of fastening means shown comprising the preferred integral bolt engaging-tongues I, 2.

In any event, referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the resilient keeper thus provided `is readily mounted to the plate member D through its base flanges II, I2 by such bolt engaging means I, v2, in threadedL fastening engagement with securing bolts or screws 3, 4. The heads of a the securing bolts are. preferably countersunk such that the exterior of said plate member is a substantial plane -surface and may be brought into ush engagement with the adjacentwall member A in a completed`.installation as shown. In mounting the keeper, a passage P, for the cooperating strike s providedin the plate member D and aligned .with a similar passage P' in the wall member A of the cabinet body, the keeper being suitably adjusted to dispose the spring arms I4, I5 thereof in substantial alignment with such passages in position toreceive evenly and uniformly therebetween thehead of the cooperating strike mounted on the abutting wall member B comprising the door of the refrigerator. 4

TheA strike 20, may be provided in any suitable forinfor cooperative engagement with the spring arms of the keeper yand naturally-may be constructed from either resilient or non-resilient material. A preferred form` of strike is illustrated and comprises a solid body portion 2l provided with a tool engagingvsurface 22 at one end and a substantial annular or ball-type head element 24 at the other. 'I'he ysaid body portion of the strike being solid, is readily tapped to provide a recess for receiving a bolt 25 mounting the same in desired position on the wall member B, but of course may be secured by any other suitable fastening means.

With the resilient keeper and cooperating strike mounted on their respective wall mmebersin the manner aforesaid, it will be understood that such 70 latching members are thereby arrangedV to be thev annular or ballconguration of the striker 'l5 head 24, the spring arms of the keeper are caused to gradually spread apart and permit the striker head to pass therebetween and seat the rounded undersurfaces thereof on the curved lip elements I3, I3 of the spring arms in the abutting relation of the wall members in the fully closed position of the door as shown in Fig. 1.

As best seen inFig. 4, the actual contact elements of the improved catch consist of the curbed, rounded lip elements I8, I9 of the spring arms of the keeper and the rounded surfaces of the annular or ball-type striker head 24. Thus the strike is adapted to effectively engage the spring arms from any of several angles if necessary in what may be termed a universal contact and accordingly, the keeper and strike may be l mounted in various relative positions to have a wide range of use on different types of cabinets and similar structures. A further advantage of this construction resides in the fact that should the keeper and strike be somewhat misaligned such that the striker head moves one of the spring arms more than the other, such inaccuracy is readily compensated for by the engagement of the rounded surfaces of the striker head in universal, close contact with the curved, rounded cam surfaces of the lips I8, I9 of the spring arms. This arrangement together with the foreshortened base construction of the keeper providing for relatively long spring arms, prevents undue distortion and strain in the spring arms and otherwise minimizes danger of fracture of the same by reason of crystallization incident to continuous wear over an extended period of use.

.In releasing the members of the catch from the fastening position shown in Fig. 1, a substantial axial pull exerted on the strike causes the rounded undersurfaces of the ball-type head por- -tion 24 thereof to cam 'the rounded surfaces of the-curved lips I8, I9"of the spring arms to spread the same apart and thereby permit the strike to be disassociated from the keeper and easily and quickly withdrawn to the open position of the door or other closure.4 Ordinarily, the catch is readily released by such axial pull exerted on the strike by means of a suitable handle mounted on the door of the refrigerator cabinet or similar casing as illustrated in Fig. 3. The operation of such a handle is often inconvenient, particularly with the hands full as frequently is the case in carrying objects to the refrigerator, and as previously set forth one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a conveniently located release device which may be readily operated as by simple arm pressure of the elbow or the like to cause the door or other closure to swingautomatically to open position.

It will be noted that in the fully engaged posltion ofthe strike with the spring arms of the keeper a substantial por-tion of the annular or ball-head 2,4 of the strike projects beyond the extremities of the spring arms I4, I5, in which relation a suitable form of lever mechanism may be employed to operatively engage the projecting portion of the ball head strike and otherwise exert a camming action thereon when actuated to force the strike in an axial direction toward disengagement from the spring arms ofv the keeper. l

It is to be understood that such a lever mechanism may assume any of a number of forms and may embody either a lever type handle mechv55 in any desired manner.

of which is suitably formed to provide a cam surface 3| adapted to bear against the projecting head 24 of the strike with the other end thereof fashioned into a substantial crank 32 designed to be actuated `by a push button arrangement as presently to be described. 'I'he lever is suitably t formed intermediate its length to include a flange In order to maintain the lever 30 in its normal retracted position relative to the projecting portion of the striker head 24, suitable spring means may be employed to bias the lever and urge the same in a counter-clockwise direction out of engagement with the strike. Preferably a flat spring 44 as shown is employed and fastened at one end to the plate D by the same bolt and nut fastening 43 vsecuring the section 42 of the hinge pivotally mounting said lever 3II as aforesaid. Thus, by this arrangement the crank portion 32 of the lever. extends normally in a position to be readily engaged by any suitable operating member to actuate the lever 3II about its pivot 40 against the force of said spring 44.'

A preferred type of such operating member may assume the form of a substantial push-button arrangement comprising a shaft or a spindle 5I provided with suitable threads carrying a stop nut 52 permitting axial adjustment thereof with respect to the wall member A on which it is mounted. 'I'he spindle is mounted for axial sliding movement with respect to plate D by means of a ferrule 53 having a flange at one end seating against said lplate and an exteriorly threaded sleeve onto which is secured an ornamental escutcheon cover plate 54 serving also as a fastening means for mounting the plate in a completed installation. Thussaid spindle is mounted for axial sliding movement relative to the mounting plate D and in this relation has one end extending to the front of the cabinet casing where it is provided with. suitable knob or push-button The opposite end thereof projects to the rear of the casing body in operative engagement with the bell crank portion 32 of the actuating lever; this involves the provision of an elongated slot 33 in said crank portion into which the inner end of the spindle is disposed with the stop nut carried thereby positioned in abutting relation with the adjacent underface of the crank. The spindle is freely movable in said slot of the crank and as shown in Fig. 2 when the spindle is pushed inwardly said stop nutv 52 becomes effective to actuate the lever 30 about its pivot mounting 40 in the operation for releasing the spring catch as presently to be described.

From the foregoing it is to be appreciated that the instant construction involves a relatively simple arrangement for mounting the respective parts of the spring keeper and release mechanism in a refrigerator construction or the like inasf In this respect, it will be understood that in assembling the unitary plate attachment, the ferrule, spindle andstop nutl carried thereby are all held in operative position by the crank portion 32 of the lever under the force of said flat spring 44. The plate assembly is in turn secured to the door frame body or casing A by the escutcheon cover plate 54 and suitable U-shaped clip devices 56 clasping an edge of the plate and providing bolt engaging means for threadedly engaging a bolt fastenings 51 securing the same to the adjacent vertical face of said casing. A suitable form of housing (not shown) may be employed with the mounting plate D or secured to the cabinet structure to fully encase the parts of the spring catch and release mechanism in protecting the same against moisture and otherwise preventing the entrance of heat into the refrigerator cabinet.

In the closed position of the door the respective parts of the spring catch and release mechanism occupy substantially the relation shown in Fig. 1. To open the door, 'the plunger-like spindle is pushed inwardly by means of the knob or push button 55 whereupon the stop nut 52 carried thereby engages the crank 32 of the lever to actuate the same as shown in Fig. 2, to move said lever `about its pivot mounting 49 against the force of the fiat spring 44. Thus the cam face extremity 3| of the lever bearing against the projecting head of the strike, acts to force said strike axially toward disengagement from the spring arms of the keeper. stood that relatively little force is required for this operation inasmuch as the lips I8, I9 of the spring arms are preferably fashioned in the manner of rounded cam surfaces for engagement with the rounded surfaces of the ball type striker head thus reducing friction therebetween and enabling each to have substantial camming action over. the other. In the further movement of the strike toward full release from the keeper, this camming action is most important as will be clear from Fig. 2 wherein the lips of the spring arms are shown as just passing the widest point of cammingaction with the rounded surfaces of the striker head, and are thereafter effective to cam against the top surfaces' of the striker head to thrust the strike outward by a substantial kick in the door opening direction. This camming action of the striker head with the cam engaging lips I8, I9 of the spring arms may be increased or diminished by varying the position of the strike and the shape of the striker head, but in relatively light force is required on the push but-V ton 55 to open the door such that there is no necessity whatsoever for special spring pressed plunger devices and the like `for forcing the door open upon release o f the'lock or latch as in simi' lar structures heretofore employed.

By modifying as necessary or desirable the shape and disposition of the parts, theinvention may be adapted to various refrigerator constructions, cabinet casings and other box structures of general utility; furthermore, since the releasing device fully unlocks the door as aforesaid, the invention makes itv quite practical to dispense with the usual door opening handle, thus It will be under-` simplifying and reducing the cost ofthe latch or catch to that extent. And inasmuch as the releasing of the strike is effected in this invention nism together with a combined push-button v handle arrangement mounted entirely on the door such that the respective abutting wall members A', B' may be brought into close, ush engagement in the closed position of the door and casing. As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the spring keeper and strike mechanism are substantially similar in operation and use to that shown in the preferred embodiment of the invention of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. The spring keeper however is formed with an integral tail section 9, Fig. 7, which serves as a substantial spring for maintaining the actuating lever in its normally retracted relation with respect to the strike in position to be actuated by the special form of push-button plunger device as presently to be described.

In this form of the invention the actuating lever for releasing the spring catch assumes the form of a substantial bell crank 60 one end of which is pivotally mounted as at ISI,V to the wall member A', and the other end formed in the manner of a substantial cam element 63 designed to bear against the projecting' head 2l of the striker head and otherwise exert an axial-backward force on said strike to disengage the same from the spring arms of the keeper.

The operating means for the' actuating lever 60, as in the previously described form of the invention, comprises a substantial plunger device butis preferably provided in the manner of a combined push-button and `handle attachment which may be mounted onto theouter facing of the door structure by an operation taking place entirely from the front side of the door. Ac-

cordingly in providing the push button operating means in the manner of a separate attachment, a spindle 1I is provided of sufficient length to extend from a point without the casing into the interior thereof with its extremity 12 in substantial abutting relation with the adjacent cam face 62 of the bell crank 69. Threadedly mounted on said spindle is a stop nut 13 holding a coil spring 14 in assembled relation in an-elongated ferrule 15. The said ferrule has a threaded extremity for threadedly engaging the internal threads of sleeve 16 of an escutcheon cover plate 11 in com pleting the housing for the coil spring and stop nut 13. Thus, the ferrule 15'with the shank of the spindle 1I extending therethrough as shown, provides a separate plunger unit which may be readily attached to the front flnish panell F of the door by threadedly engaging the exterior threads of sleeve 16 of the escutcheon cover plate 11 with a threaded hub member 18 provided on said finish panel and projecting inwardly thereof.

'I'he spindle is provided on its outer end with.

a push button 19 extending through an opening in the central portion of a handle H, Fig. 8, and- `able fastening means such as self-tapping screws exerting a substantial axial force on said strike or the like.

Referring to Fig. 6 it will be understood that in the operation for opening the door, the push button 1I is depressed as necessary to cause the inner extremity 12 of the spindle to engage the cam surface 82 of the pivotally mounted lever 60.

' 'I'he cam -element 83 oi' the lever thereby becomes effective to cam against the projecting head 24 of the strike to force the same from engagement with the spring arms of the keeper in the direction of opening of the door, the rounded cam surfaces I8, I9 of the spring arms thereupon serving to cam against the outer rounded surfaces of the striker head 24 to exert a kick on the strike and thrust the door automatically open substantially in the manner described with reference to the preferred form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4 inclusive.

And while the invention has been described in` detail with specific examples, such examples are intended as illustrations only, since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modiiications in the construction, arrangement andv general combination of parts may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, with all changes falling within the scope, meaning and range of equivalency of the claims intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A release device for a spring catch comprising a cooperating strike and keeper mounted on abutting wall members forming the closure and frame of a cabinet structure or the like, said keeper comprising cooperating springl arms frictionally engaging the strike to hold said wall members in latched relation, said release device for said spring catch comprising a lever mounted in position to disengage said strike from said spring arms of the' keeper, said lever when actuated exerting an axial force on said strike toward disengagement from said spring arms of the keeper and separation of said wall members from latched relation, and means for actuating said lever.

2. A release device for a spring catch comprising a cooperating strike and keeper mounted on abutting wall members forming the closure and frame of a cabinet structure or the like to hold said wall members in latched abutting relation, said release device for said spring catch comprising a pivotally mounted lever having a cam surface adapted for camming engagement with said strike, said lever when actuated exerting a substantial axial force on said strike toward disengagement from said keeper and separation of said wall members from latched relation, and means for actuating said lever comprising an operating member engaging said lever to cause movement thereof on its pivot mounting.

3. A release device for a spring catch comprising a cooperating strike and keeper mounted on abutting wall members forming the closure and frame of a cabinet structure or the like, said keeper comprising cooperating spring arms engaging the strike to hold said Wall members in latched abutting relation, said release device for said spring catch comprising a lever having a cam surface and pivoted for camming engagement with said strike, said lever when actuated toward disengagement from said spring arms of the keeper and separation of said wall members from latched relation, and means for .actuating said lever comprising an operating member pro- `iectingV at the face oi' said cabinet structure or the like and adapted to effect movement of said. lever on its pivot mounting.

4. A release device for a spring catch comprising a cooperating strike and keeper mounted on abutting wall members forming the closure and frame of a cabinet structure or the like. said keeper comprising cooperating spring arms having camming lip elements frictionally engaging the 'strike to hold said wall members in latched relation, said release device for said spring catch comprising a pivotally mounted lever adapted for directly engaging said strike, said lever when actuated exerting a substantial axial force on said strike toward disengagement from said spring arms of the keeper and separation of said wall members from latched relation, and means for actuating said lever comprising an operating member projecting at the face of said cabinet structure or the like and engaging said lever to cause movement thereof on its pivot mounting.

5. A release device for/,a spring catch com prising a cooperating strike and keeper mounted on abutting wall' members forming the closure l and frame of a cabinet structure or the like, said keeper comprising .cooperating spring arms having camming lip elements frictionally engaging a projecting head on the strike to hold said wall members in latched 'abutting relation, said release device for said spring catch comprising a' 6. A release device for a spring catch compris ing a cooperating strike and keeper counted on abutting wall members forming the closure and frame of a cabinet structure or the'like'. said keeper comprising cooperating spring arms having camming lip elements 'frictionally engaging a projecting head on the strike to hold said wall members in latched abutting relation, said release device for said spring catch comprising'a pivotally mounted' lever having a cam surface adapted for camming engagement with the projecting head of said strike, said lever when actuated exerting a substantial axial force on said strike toward disengagement from said Spring arms of the keeper and separation of said wall members from latched relation, said camming lip elements of the spring arms being adapted to excrt a substantial kick on the projecting head of said strike in the separation of said wall members from latched relation, and means for actuating saidlever comprising an operating member projecting at the face of said cabinet structure or the like and adapted to effect movement of said a cam surface adapted for camming action with said strike to force the same from engagement with the spring arms of the keeper, and operating means projecting at the face of said cabinet structure or the like for actuating said lever.

8. A release device for a spring catch in which a strike carried by the door of a cabinet structure or the like is engaged by camming lip elements provided on the spring arms of a cooperating keeper mounted in said cabinet structure to hold the door in closed position, said release.

device comprising a pivotally mounted lever having a cam surface adapted to directly engage 'said strike to force said strike from engagement with said camming lip elements of the spring arms of the keeper in opening the door, and means mounted on said cabinet structure or the like for actuating said lever.

9. A release device for a spring catch in which the projecting head of a strike carried by the door of a cabinet structure or the like is engaged by camming lip elements provided on the spring -arms of a cooperating keeper mounted in said membery projecting at the face of the cabinet structure or the like.

10. A releasedevice for a spring catch in which the projecting head of a strike carried by the door of a cabinet structure or the like is engaged by camming 1ip.elements provided on the spring arms of a cooperating keeper mounted in said cabinet structure to hold the door in closed position, said releasedevice comprising a pivotally mounted lever having a cam surface adapted to engage the head of said strike when held by the keeper in the'closed position of the door to force said strike from engagement with the camming lip elements of the spring arms of the keeper in opening the door, said camming lip elements being adapted to cam the projecting head of the strike and exert a substantial kick thereon to thrust the same in the door opening directionl incident to the movement of said lever,

- and means for actuating said lever comprising an operating member adapted to move said lever on its pivot mounting to engage the strike.

11. 'A release device for a spring catch in which a strike carried by the door of a cabinet'structure or the like is engaged. by the spring arms of a cooperating keeper in the cabinet structure to hold the door in closed position, said release device comprising a unitary plate attachment mounted in said'cabinet structure and having secured thereto said keeper and a lever pivoted to engage said strike and force the same from holding relation'with the spring arms in opening the door, and means for actuating said lever comprising an operating member projecting at the face of said cabinet structure.

12. A release device for a spring catch in which the projecting head of a strike carried by the door of a cabinet structure or the like is engaged by camming lip elements provided on thespring arms of a cooperating keeper mounted in said vcabinet structure to hold the door in closed position, said release device comprising a unitary plate attachment mounted in said cabinet structure andvhaving secured thereto the keeper, a spring, and a pivoted lever having a cam surface adapted to engage the strike to force the same from engagement with the camming lip elements of the spring arms ofthe keeper in opening the door, said spring maintaining said lever in normal operative relation to said strike, said camming lipeleme'nts of the keeper being adapted t0 cam the projecting head of the strike and exert a substantial kick thereon to thrust the same in the door opening direction incident to the movement of said lever, and means for actuating said lever to move the same .on its pivot mounting to engage the strike, said actuating means comprising a substantial push-button plunger mechanism disposed normally in projecting relation at the face of the cabinet structure in position to be readily operated by the user.

13. A release device for a spring catch in which the projecting head of a strike carried by the' door of a cabinet structure or the like is engaged by camming lip elements providedon the spring arms of a cooperating keeper mounted in said cabinet structure to hold the door in closed position, said release device comprising a pivotally mounted lever having a crank portion and a cam surface adapted to engage the strike to force the same from engagement with the camming lip el.

ements of the spring arms of the keeper in opening the door, a spring maintaining said lever in normal operative relation to .said strike, said camming lip elements of the keeper being adapted to cam the projectingv head of the strike and exert a substantial kick thereon to thrust the same inthe door opening direction incident t0 the movement of said lever, and means for actuating said lever to move the same on its pivot mounting to engage the strike, said actuating means comprising a substantial plunger mechanismfy having a spindle in operative engagement with the crank portion of said lever and a pushbutton operating device disposed normally in projecting relation at the face of the cabinet structure to be readily operated by the user.

14. A release device for a spring catch in which the projecting head of a. strike carried by the door of a cabinetlstructure or the like is engaged by camming lip elements provided on the spring arms of a'cooperating keeper mounted in said cabinet structure to hold the door in closed position, said release device comprising a substantial bell crank lever pivotally mounted at one end and provided on its other end with a cam surface adapted to engage the strike to force the same from engagement with the camming lip elements of the spring arms of the keeper in opening the door, said keeper including a spring element maintaining said lever in normal operative rela- `ti'on to be readily operated by the user. 

